ericlustbader.the ninja-第90章

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d　which　was　raised；　beginning　its　thrust　forward　towards　his　chest　where　a　fire　burned　already。
　Then；　in　less　time　than；　it　seemed　to　him；　the　blink　of　an　eye；　the　ninja　was　knocked　sideways；　across　the　floor　towards　the　windows。
　Nicholas；　his　right　shoulder　lowered；　ran　lightly　after　the　spinning　body；　his　tytana　held　before　him　in　a　two…handed　grip。
　Saigo　tumbled　head　over　heels；　came　up　on　his　feet　facing　Nicholas。　He　withdrew　his　own　katana　with　his　left　hand；　made　a　flicking　movement　with　his　right。
　Nicholas　ducked　and　leapt　at　the　same　time。　Something　no　more　than　the　size　of　a　pea　arced　high　into　the　air。　It　bounced　once　on　the　floor　directly　in　front　of…the　desk。　But　Saigo　had　been　slightly　off　balance　when　he　had　tossed　it　and；　on　the　rebound；　the　thing　hit　the　overhang　of　the　desk　top　and；　instead　of　landing　behind　it；　bounced　back　in　front　of　it。
　As　it　was；　the　mini…blast　blew　Nicholas's　katana　from　his　grasp　as　it　tore　away　most　of　the　front　of　the　desk；　ripping　up　the　carpeting。
　Immediately　Saigo　hurled　himself　towards　Nicholas；　who　was　still　scrambling　away　from　the　percussion　of　the　explosion。
　In　the　periphery　of　his　vision；　Nicholas　saw　Saigo　ing。　He　was　vulnerable　and　he　knew　it。　No　textbook　defence　was　possible　from　his　position；　not　against　someone　as　skilled　as　Saigo。　His　decision　was　made　in　a　split　second。　He　propelled　his　body　obliquely　upwards；　using　his　palms；　arms　and　shoulders　for　power；　and；　twisting；　his　soles　caught　Saigo's　fingers　as　they　curled　around　the　hilt　of　his　tytana。　The　angle　added　to　the　natural　force　of　the　blow　and　the　weapon　spun　out　of　his　grip　and　away。
　Saigo　landed　with　the　claw　first　and　Nicholas　countered　with　sword…strikes　to　the　liver　and　spleen；　missing；　but　deflecting　the　attack　at　the　same　time。
　It　was　the　heart…kite　Saigo　immediately　strove　for。　Beside　the
　fact　that　it　was　lethal；　it　had　the　added　advantage　of　forcing　a　break　in　a　stalemate；　a　situation　that　would　benefit　Nicholas　more　because　of　the　time　factor。　Every　added　second　that　Saigo　took　here　made　the　get…out　that　much　more　difficult。
　Saigo　ignored　the　serpent…strike　to　his　clavicle；　biting　back　on　the　pain　and　concentrating　on　what　he　had　to　do。　He　was　on　top；　part　of　him　stunned　by　the　mode　of　Nicholas's　hand…to…hand　defence。　It　was；　in　part；　ninjutsu　but　of　a　kind　he　had　never　before　encountered。　Could　it　be　AJ（a　i　ninjutsu？　he　thought　wildly。　That　would　be　in　character。　By　the　Amida　I　It　was　ninja　against　ninja。
　He　worked　out　of　the　four…hands…lock　Nicholas　had　pressed　on　him　and　was　ready　now。　For　the　heart…kite。　In　less　time　than　　it　took　to　think　about　it；…　Nicholas　would　be　dead；　training　or　no　training。
　He　jerked　away　and　down　as　the　whine　of　a　bullet　passed　through　the　air　where　his　head　had　been　moments　ago。　Amida！　There　was　another　one　up　here。　He　cursed　himself　mightily　for　being　so　involved　with　his　new　knowledge　of　Nicholas。　It　was　this　that　had　kept　him　from　discerning　the　third　man。　Now　where　was　he？
　But　Nicholas　had　thrown　him　the　tettsui…to　and　hid　already　tied　him　up　sufficiently　for　him　to　divert　his　full　attention　here。
　With　a　frantic　effort；　he　fought　Nicholas　off　and　bounded　to　where　he　had　left　his　katana。　Nicholas　was　after　him　in　a　flash；　extending　his　body　fully；　wrapping　his　fingers　around　Saigo's　powerful　ankles。　They　crashed　together　into　the　drawing…board。　Saigo　picked　up　his　t（atana。　Anodier　bullet　richocheted　off　the　corner　of　the　board；　spewing　splinters　into　his　face；　and　he　rolled　away；　cursing。
　Nicholas　went　for　the　sword　arm；　mindful　of　all　the　many　shaken　he　knew　might　pop　into　his　face　at　any　time。　He　went　immediately　into　the　air…sea　change　to　dirow　Saigo　off　balance；　for　he　had　heard；　as　he　knew　his　opponent　had；　the　soft　hum　of　the　elevator　working　and　when　it　arrived；　he　knew；　Croaker's　men　might　take　no　chances　this　time　but　flood　the　floor　with　tear　gas　the　moment　the　doors　opened。
　Saigo　knew　that　he　was　at　the　extreme　end　of　his　time　limit。　A　new　factor　had　been　added　that　he　had　not　counted　on。
　Nicholas　needed　nothing　more　than　a　stalemate　while　he；　on　the　other　hand　…
　He　attacked　high　with　a　rapid　series　of　strikes　aimed　for　Nicholas's　oesophagus；　but　he　was　balked　and　he　began　to　sweat　hard。　His　mind　raced　but　kept　ing　back　to　the　same　point。　If　both　were　out　of　the　question；　he　would　have　to　be　content　with　one　and　plan　for　the　other　later。　There　was　no　question　of　choice。
　He　let　a　pair　of　blows　in　and　doubled　over；　feigning　more　pain　than　he　felt。　His　right　hand；　in　cover；　darted　within　his　belt；　palming　another　tiny　sphere；。　This　time　he　must　make　no　error　of　judgement　in　his　throw。
　He　turned　his　head　fractionally　to　get　a　fix　on　Tomkin's　position　and　that　was　when　Nicholas　knew。　He　threw　himself　from　his　opponent　at　the　same　time　as　Saigo　launched　the　sphere；　diving　across　the　desktop；　slamming　into　the　immobile　Tomkin　just　as　he　heard　the　tiny　popping　sound　behind　him。　As　he　pushed　Tomkin　out　of　the　way；　he　kicked　the　massive　high…backed　chair　backwards。　At　about　the　same　instant；　he　caught　the　sound　of　a　shot　and　what　sounded　like　a　high　crack　of　thunder。　He　hit　the　floor　just　as　the　explosion　came。
　It　was　a　hot　burst　of　green…white…yellow；　behind　which　came　the　concussion；　the　almost　physical　wave　of　sound　and；　just　afterwards；　the　soft　pattering　of　the　wrecked　furniture　like　sleet　on　a　frost…filled　day。
　Nicholas　turned　over　on　his　back；　sat　up。
　'What…　？'
　He　put　his　hand　on　Tomkin's　head；　keeping　it　down。　'Shut　up；'　he　growled　thickly。
　He　saw　Croaker's　head　peering　out　from　behind　the　top　of　the　long　sofa。
　'Jesus　Christ　1'　He　stood　up。　'Is　Tomkin　okay？'
　'Unharmed；'　Nicholas　said；　thinking　about　how　close　it　had　been。　Bitterly；　he　regretted　letting　Saigo　get　away。　After　so　many　years　he　wanted　only　death　for　death。　But　the　decision　had　been　inconclusive。　In　one　sense；　he　knew　he　had　been　lucky。　He　had　seen　the　shock　in　Saigo's　eyes　as　he　had　learned　that　Nicholas　was　ninja。　Well；　that　was　some　pensation；　but　it　only　made　the　next　confrontation　that　much　more　dangerous。　Tonight　he　had　been　unprepared。。。
　'Christ！'　Croaker　said　again　and　Nicholas　followed　his　incredulous　gaze。　'I　wasn't　sure　that　I　had　seen　it　just　before　the　blast　but　now　…'
　Where　the　third　window　panel　had　been　there　were　now　merely　shards　of　glass。　Glass　littered　the　carpet；　as　the　night　wind　had　brought　some　of　it　back　inside。
　'Nuts；'　Croaker　said；　slipping　his　。38　back　into　its　holster。　'The　guy　must've　been　nuts　…　or　suicidal。'　He　turned　as　the　metal　door　burst　open　and　he　waved　the　men　off。　'Downstairs；'　he　said　to　a　tousle…haired　sergeant。　'See　what's　left　of　the　bastard　for　the　M。E。　to　scrape　off　the　sidewalk。'
　Nicholas　had　gone　to　the　broken　window　and　was　peering　out。　Croaker　came　up　beside　him。
　'Can't　see　anything　from　this　vantage　point；'　he　said；　'but　the　goddamned　red…and…whites　from　the　cars。'　He　meant　the　revolving　lights。
　Tomkin　was　up　behind　them；　brushing　off　his　suit。　It　was　ruined；　whitened　from　the　blasts；　as　if　it　had　abruptly　aged。
　Croaker　left　the　room　without　looking　at　him。
　'Nick。'　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　seemed　to　have　trouble　talking；　and　his　legs　felt　rubbery。　'Is　he　gone？'
　Nicholas　continued　to　stare　out　and　down。　He　could　see　movement　now　and　lights　ing　on。　They　had　found　the　body。
　'You　saved　my　life。'　Tomkin　cleared　his　throat。　'I　want　to　thank　you。'　Maybe　Nicholas　had　not　heard　the　exchange　he　had　had　with　that　madman。　He　had　been　mad　himself　to　trust　him。　He　knew　with　a　grinding　certainty　that　tore　at　his　guts　that；　without　Nicholas's　intervention；　he　would　be　dead　now。　He　was　in　Nicholas's　debt　and　this　worried　him。　He　felt　anger　forcing　its　way　upwards　and；　for　the　briefest　of　instants；　he　detested　himself　in　precisely　the　same　way　he　had　detested　himself　as　he　had　arisen；　sticky　and　panting；　from　the　supine　body　of　his　daughter　so　many　years　ago；　in　a　summer　filled　with　heat　and　the　pounding　of　the　surf。　On　Gin　Lane。
　On　the　street；　Nicholas　saw　that　they　had　already　put　the　corpse　into　a　body　bag。　He　stopped　them　before　they　could　load　it　into　the　ambulance。　It　was　only　one　of　a　long　line。　The　associate
　M。E。；　a　light…haired　woman　with　a　pink　plexion；　glanced　at　Croaker；　who　nodded。
　'Not　much　left　after　a　fall　like　that；'　Croaker　said　with　a　curious　lack　of　emotion。
　He　was　right。　There　was　not　much　left　of　Saigo's　head；　his　face　pulped。　One　shoulder　seemed　crushed　and　the　neck　at　an　odd　angle。
　'Legs're　like　jelly；'　Croaker　said　as　if　he　relished　the　thought。　'Not　a　bone　in　them　how　over　an　inch　in　length。　That　right；
　Doc？'
　The　associate　M。E。　nodded　wearily。　'Take　it　away；'　she　said。　'It's　been　tagged。　I've　got　more　work　here。'　She　turned　away　and　Nicholas　could　see　the　parade　of　stretchers　being　brought　out　from　the　bowels　of　the　building。
　Croaker's　face　was　white　and　drawn　as　his　eyes　ticked　over　the　casualties。
　'Four　dead；　Nick。'　His　voice　was　a　rasp。　〃That　we　know　about　for　sure。　There　are　two　others　missing　and　a　couple　more　arc　down　recovering　from　gas　inhalation。　Jesus；　your　friend　Saigo　kills　like　other　people　eat。'　He　rubbed　his　fingers　over　his　face。　'I'm　glad　it's　all　over。　Glad　as　hell。'
　'I'm　sorry　it　had　to　be　this　way；'　Nicholas　said。
　'Don't　say　〃I　told　you　so〃。'
　'I　wasn't　thinking　of　that　at　all。　I　was　thinking　he's　gone　now。　I　can　get　on　with　my　life。　I　just　want　to　see　Justine。'
　'What　would　make　him　jump？'
　'He　was　a　warrior。　To　the　in　battle　was　what　he　lived　for。'
　'I　don't　understand　that　kind　of　philosophy。'
　Nicholas　shrugged　pragmatically。　'It　doesn't　matter。'　He　looked　around。　'Did　you　find　his　katana？　I'd　like　to　have　it。'
　'His　what？'
　〃The　sword。'
　'Oh；　that。　No。　But　I　don't　think　they've　found　all　of　him　yet　either。　It's　here；　somewhere。　We'll　find　it。'
　'I　guess　it's　not　very　important　either。'
　Croaker's　gaze　swept　over　Nicholas's　shoulder。　'Your　boss　is　looking　for　you；　I　think。'
　Nicholas　swivelled　and　grinned　back　at　his　friend。　'Ex…boss；　you　mean。'　Tomkin；　his　suit　streaked　with　grey　and　black；　stood　at　the　open　door　to　his　limo。　Tom　stood　at　his　side；　obediently　holding　the　door。　The　motor　seemed　to　be　running。　Sirens　wailed　in　ululation　for　the　dead　and　the　night；　where　they　stood　at　least；　seemed　very　bright。
　'Listen；'　Croaker　said；　taking　Nicholas's　arm　and　leading　him　a　few　paces　away　along　the　avenue。　'Before　you　go。　I　want　to　tell　you　I　got　that　call　I've　been　waiting　for。　The　other　woman　in　Angela　Didion's　apartment　the　night　she　was　murdered。　I　know　where　she　is。'
　Nicholas　looked　at　him；　then　at　Tomkin　waiting　silently　beside　the　limo。　'You're　not　going　to　let　that　go；　are　you？'
　'I　can't。　I've　gotta　nail　him　on　this。　You　should　be　able　to　understand。　It's　a　matter　of　honour。　If　I　don't　do　it；　nobody's　gonna　be　able　to。'
　'But　are　you　sure　of　what　you've　got？'
　Croaker　stuck　a　toothpick　in　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　His　eyes　were　dark　pools。　His　face　seemed　more　lined　tonight　than　it　had　two　days　ago；　but　perhaps　it　was　only　the　harsh　light。　He　told　Nicholas　about　his　conversation　with　Matty　the　Mouth。　'You　thought　I　was　just　shooting　off　my　big　mouth　with　Tom…kin；　didn't　you？　Matty　didn't　know　who　else　was　nosing　around　about　this　broad　but　I'll